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Flying this winter
Don’t know about where you all are at but in my little corner of gods country the flying this winter has been exceptional so far. Clear, crisp, dry, cold, low-wind days where both the engine runs smooth and the lift is excellent.The grass has stayed reasonably dry so the plane doesn’t get covered in shyte like past years. Out over the North Sea a few miles off the coast of Montrose on Xmas day I opened the window expecting an artic blast instead the air was actually warm. Faffing around practicing instrument approaches into Dundee & Leuchars today with no traffic or tower makes for a pleasant day. Be nice if we got this right thru till spring, fingers crossed. |
Well, you must be born lucky. Over here it's been rather the contrary. Windy, low cloud, and mostly both together. Plus the runway got grazed - and worse, potholed - by boars, these nice table-assets are on the increase over here. Still I couldn't be much worried, my craft isn't yet airworthy anyway. Couple of weeks only, though.
You do seem to confirm that the traditional cries about Scottish climate are much overrated. |
When the sun shines, Scotland is the most beautiful place in the world!
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Originally Posted by Sam Rutherford
(Post 10349477)
When the sun shines, Scotland is the most beautiful place in the world!
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Originally Posted by piperboy84
(Post 10348844)
..... opened the window expecting an artic blast instead the air was actually warm.
Next you'll be boasting about turning the heater down ;) https://i.imgur.com/xZpN3dg.jpg |
I was based for a long time in Aberdeen flying off-shore helicopters. When the ABZ weather was bad (a lot) Inverness was the most popular nominated IFR diversion as the weather there was usually beautiful. Few people realise just how good the climate and flying are in the Inverness area. SND |
I had an ambo flight from Shetland to ABZ one day, with Inverness as my alternate. Unfortunately Inverness started deteriorating close to mins (not in the forecast) while I was trying to get into ABZ, and the rate was rather faster than I could get to INV, so off to Dundee when a couple of partial tries at ABZ didn't work (kept dropping below mins before I passed 1000'). Company was a bit miffed that I didn't go to INV, but damned if I wanted to be running out of fuel over an airport that was below mins. As far as I was concerned the reducing wx wasn't in the forecast so no way was I going to trust that it *might* stay above mins while I droned my way there. It ended up going below so I've never been happier about one of my decisions.
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Tin;
Was that on the Islander? That was one job I always fancied doing. When I was Shetland based I often used to go island hopping on the Islander on my days off. SND |
Last couple flights I've done there has been distinct Inversions +8 degrees at 3000' compared to surface a couple weeks ago and about 5+ yesterday
Wind Gradients very noticeable as well with <5knots at surface and 22 knots at 3000', which I presume is down to lack of thermal activity and subsequently little mixing of layers allowing Boundary layer effect to be more prominent |
Sir ND, yes, it was. I was with Loganair and based in Lerwick. Loganair had the Scottish air ambulance contract. Unlike Orkney & Glasgow with dedicated ambo BN2s, Shetland's plane had a dual role. Normally pax/freight flights during the day - but always prioritised for any ambulance flights that would pop up, and on call at night for ambo work. Many of the outer island strips only got electric runway lights during the period I was there. It certainly was interesting flying into somewhere like Out Skerries at night using gooseneck flares on their 381m runway.
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It certainly was interesting flying into somewhere like Out Skerries at night using gooseneck flares on their 381m runway. SND |
Sir ND, when was it you were Shetland based? I was there 2001-2004.
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Originally Posted by piperboy84
(Post 10348844)
Don’t know about where you all are at but in my little corner of gods country the flying this winter has been exceptional so far. Clear, crisp, dry, cold, low-wind days where both the engine runs smooth and the lift is excellent.The grass has stayed reasonably dry so the plane doesn’t get covered in shyte like past years. Out over the North Sea a few miles off the coast of Montrose on Xmas day I opened the window expecting an artic blast instead the air was actually warm. Faffing around practicing instrument approaches into Dundee & Leuchars today with no traffic or tower makes for a pleasant day. Be nice if we got this right thru till spring, fingers crossed. |
Come over to the Alps during the winter. It's calm air most of the time. The winter temperature makes climbing a lot easier.
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